Kate White's passion for music began at the tender age of six when she embarked
upon piano lessons. Her obvious talent for the instrument later won her a coveted
music scholarship to St Paul’s School in London which boasts a formidable
reputation for musical education, its past mentors including Vaughan Williams
and Holst. With such a magnificent musical environment to hand, she decided to
take lessons in clarinet, saxophone and violin in addition to her piano studies.
Despite achieving Grade 8 distinction on piano at 13 years of age, she went on
to adopt the clarinet as her first instrument.
After St Paul’s Kate continued her musical education at York University where she achieved a B.A. Hons in Music and met her long-term partner Kieran, a fellow musician.
Since 1985, Kate has enjoyed a rich and active life both as a teacher and performer. Over the last twenty years she has taught at a number of schools in and around York, notably Bootham and the Mount. She is highly regarded as a sympathetic and dedicated tutor with a string of Grade 8 distinctions to her credit. Kate plays regularly for York Guildhall Orchestra under Simon Wright and is 1st Clarinet for York Opera and The Academy of St Olave’s. Kate is also well respected as a Jazz Saxophonist and has worked in a variety of ensembles for many years.
When not teaching or playing, Kate enjoys long walks and classic fiction. Tonight
she will be performing her favourite clarinet concerto.